Christian Horner shares his verdict on Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc in Drive to Survive
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Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, plays a prominent role in the latest season of *Drive to Survive*, which premiered on Friday. As expected, Horner’s presence is central to the series, offering fans an in-depth look at Red Bull's performance throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season.
One of the most captivating storylines in the season revolves around the fierce rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren. What initially seemed like a year of dominance for Red Bull quickly turned into a season-long battle, as McLaren appeared to close the gap with what some perceived as an unfair advantage. Red Bull felt McLaren exploited certain rule nuances to erase the performance deficit. Despite these concerns, the FIA chose not to penalize McLaren, further fueling the tension. This created a charged atmosphere between Horner and McLaren’s Zak Brown, with both sides fiercely competing for supremacy. In the end, Max Verstappen triumphed over Lando Norris to secure the drivers’ championship, but McLaren clinched the coveted Constructors’ title.
The Netflix series also delves into Horner’s reaction to McLaren’s driver swap in Hungary, where he openly states that Verstappen would never have allowed a teammate to pass, as Norris did with his teammate. This candid assessment of McLaren's strategy provides valuable insight into Horner's competitive mindset.
The show doesn’t shy away from addressing the struggles of Red Bull’s second driver, Sergio Perez. His performance, particularly his disappointing qualifying session at the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit, led to a major fallout with Christian Horner. Sergio Perez's failure to perform under pressure ultimately cost him his seat, a decision made official last December.
In addition to the Red Bull drama, *Drive to Survive* also shines a spotlight on Charles Leclerc and the so-called 'Monaco curse.' Episode five focuses on Leclerc's long-awaited triumph in his home Grand Prix in Monaco. After five years with Ferrari and several near-misses, Leclerc finally secured victory on home soil in May 2024. The episode highlights the immense pressure he faces, not only from the adoration of the local fans but also from the string of heartbreaking results in previous seasons. Horner, who is known for his unflinching approach to competition, admits that he wasn't sure whether Charles Leclerc would ever be able to overcome such overwhelming pressure to claim the win.
In one interaction on the Red Bull pitwall, a colleague mentioned that Leclerc was under a lot of pressure. The Red Bull team boss responded that he believes there is indeed pressure but added that the Monegasque driver made a lot of mistakes.
At 27 years old, Charles Leclerc has established himself as one of the most formidable competitors in Formula 1, with eight Grand Prix victories and 42 podium finishes to his name. His consistent performance has made him one of the top threats to Max Verstappen's dominance in the 2024 season, and he finished third in the world championship standings last year.
How Charles Leclerc Has Evolved Since Lewis Hamilton Joined Ferrari
The Monegasque’s development as a driver is a subject of much discussion, especially in light of recent comments by Red Bull's Christian Horner. But are these remarks justified? Charles Leclerc's career, which spans 147 race starts, has seen him retire from 21 races—roughly 14.3% of the total. While some of these retirements were due to damage, many were not entirely his fault, suggesting that his reputation for mistakes might not be entirely deserved. However, some of the criticism stems from the 2022 season, where Leclerc's performance came under scrutiny.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor, has been outspoken about Leclerc's missed opportunity in 2022, claiming that Ferrari had a faster car than Red Bull in the first half of that season. Unfortunately for Leclerc, a series of errors, including a costly crash at the French Grand Prix while leading, derailed his championship challenge that year. This has contributed to his image as a driver prone to costly mistakes under pressure.
However, Leclerc's situation at Ferrari has changed with the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, believes that Hamilton’s presence will benefit Leclerc in several ways. Not only can Leclerc learn from Hamilton's vast experience and success, but the French manager has also observed that the pressure on Leclerc has been reduced since Hamilton joined. This could provide Leclerc with a more stable environment to focus on his performance ahead of the 2025 season. The dynamic between the two drivers could be crucial in helping Leclerc refine his skills and push for more consistent results.
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